This is a list of Internet socket port numbers used by protocols of Transport Layer of the Internet Protocol Suite for the establishment of host-to-host connectivity.
Originally, port numbers were used by the Network Control Program (NCP) which needed two ports for half duplex transmission. Later, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) needed only one port for bidirectional traffic (full duplex). The even-numbered ports were not used, and this resulted in some even numbers in the well-known port number range being unassigned. Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) and Datagram Congestion Control Protocol (DCCP) also use port numbers. They usually use port numbers that match the services of the corresponding TCP or UDP implementation, if they exist. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is responsible for maintaining the official assignments of port numbers for specific uses.[1] However, many unofficial uses of both well-known and registered port numbers occur in practice.